When Communism Inspired Americans

NY Times ^ | April 29, 2017 | Vivian Gornick

[C19fan]

At a rally in New York City in 1962, the famously liberal journalist Murray Kempton said to an audience full of old Reds: “I have known many Communists in my life. I have not known them as criminals. I knew them once as activists — and we had our quarrels. But while this country has not been kind to you, it has been fortunate in having you. You have been arrested, you have been followed, you have had your phones bugged, you have had your children fired. Throughout this, I can think of numbers of you I have known who have remained gallant and pleasant and unbroken.” He added, “I salute you and I hope for times to be better.”

[C19fan]

Just as a reminder in 1962, the world knew about Stalin's crimes, the Iron Curtain was in place, how the Soviet Union crushed Hungary, and the Berlin War was being constructed. Where is the op ed about how wonderful the German American Bund was??

[rightwingintelligentsia]

The NY Slimes never got over its love for Communism.

[Red Badger]

NYT pining for the Good Old Days...................

[BenLurkin]

NYT making a good case for why it is known as an enemy of America.

[KarlInOhio]

The NY Times still believes Walter Duranty’s reports from the Soviet Union.

[reasonisfaith]

Communism—the ideology that becomes popular only when people know as little as possible about it.

[Vehmgericht]

People who were interested knew from the beginning what the Bolsheviks were up to. The ignorance defense does not work.

[DIRTYSECRET]

The Times in the 30’s. Complicit?

[Uncle Sam 911]

Communism still inspires the Slimes.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

The subtitle should be:

“Ah, The Good Old Days...”

[MichaelRDanger]

Stupid ass liberal commie gets it ass-backwards. America inspired communism. Before America it was quasi-feudal Aristocrats dominating over a huge under-class. Enter the American Republic onto the world stage with the “People” governing themselves without their aristocratic masters. Marx, tried to take it one step farther but failed due to his ignorance of human psychology.

[wardaddy]

That was a damn good post

[Flag_This]

If you’re “inspired” by communism you’re an American in name only.

[jjotto]

Interesting in that the NY Times of its day, Horace Greeley’s New York Tribune, published columns by Karl Marx for years. Some things never change.

[Pelham]

Communism still inspires the Left.

You will see plenty of RevCom signs at their demonstrations.

RevCom = Revolutionary Communist Party

only in America-

[Pelham]

That was back in the day when old Karl championed the Radical Republicans, who had plenty in common with him.

[LambSlave]

Marx, tried to take it one step farther but failed due to his ignorance of human psychology.

I think he understood the motivation of the weakest and least intelligent 1/3 to 1/2 of his society-- they want to rely on government to provide for them, even if it's not much, because the thought of competing in the real world is their greatest horror. I think Marx did underestimate the motivations of the other part of society-- he thought they were few in number and could all be murdered. I think his primary failing was his ignorance of economics, as indicated everywhere Communism is attempted and in his personal life.

[COBOL2Java]

The NY Slimes never got over its love for Communism.

Ah, well, you see, Communism would succeed, if only they put the right people in charge...LOL

[Albion Wilde]

It is perhaps hard to understand now, but at that time,... the Marxist vision of world solidarity as translated by the Communist Party induced in the most ordinary of men and women a sense of one’s own humanity that ran deep, made life feel large; large and clarified. It was to this clarity of inner being that so many became not only attached, but addicted. No reward of life, no love nor fame nor wealth, could compete with the experience...

...of not loving God and not being saved.

[Impy]

“Commies are kewl cause my mommy was a commie.”

Eff you, Vivian.